Tennessee recorded 63 new behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry weekly update, representing 1% of the national total. This week's additions include 58 individual providers and 5 organizations, signaling a consistent, albeit modest, expansion of the state's behavioral health workforce.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the applied behavior analysis sector, the update identifies 3 new Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and 26 new Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). These counts represent distinct individuals holding at least one of these credentials or taxonomies. Notably, there were no providers with dual BCBA and RBT credentials this week. The resulting ratio of nearly 9 RBTs for every BCBA indicates a robust base of direct service providers, but also highlights the critical need for sufficient supervisory capacity to maintain quality and expand access to ABA services.
Provider Demographics
Among the individual providers, the workforce continues to be predominantly female, with 42 women accounting for 72%. 10 male providers represent 17%, while 6 providers identify as nonbinary, making up 10% of the individual additions. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data, suggesting a diverse entry of new entities rather than significant expansion by existing multi-state chains.
This week's data suggests a steady growth in Tennessee's direct ABA service capacity, driven primarily by RBTs, which is essential for addressing the state's behavioral health needs.
